FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact:
Monique Bond
January 9, 2012
1-312-814-8367
1-217-782-6637
www.isp.state.il.us
TDD: 1-800-255-3323
ILLINOIS STATE POLICE WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION TEAM CONDUCTS LIVE
TRAINING EXERCISE
Elite Unit Seizes Opportunity to Prepare for Upcoming G8/NATO Summits
Arlington Heights -- The Illinois State Police Special Weapons of Mass
Destruction Team (SWMDT) recently conducted a large scale training scenario
at an undisclosed location in suburban Cook County – the Agency's second
training exercise within the last five months.
The Agency's SWMDT was designated by a Governor's mandate in 2000 to be
capable of responding to any nuclear, chemical, or biological threat in
Illinois. Led by State Police Special Operations, the elite Unit is
divided into north, central, and south divisions. ISP's Special Operations
also commands the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Unit, and has the
ability to deploy ISP SWAT resources to address human threats, followed by
a multi-agency response to prevent and/or mitigate any Weapons of Mass
Destruction threat.
The SWMDT is comprised of specialists from the Secretary of State's Bomb
Squad, National Guard's Civil Support Team, Illinois Emergency Management
Agency, Department of Public Health, Environmental Protection Agency, and
the Illinois Medical Emergency Response Team.
The semi-annual training conducted at the end of the year is part of the
Special Operations Command's on-going efforts to train unit members to
master their specialized skills. This training exercise included the
dismantling of a chemical lab with aeration ability and the disarming of
multiple improvised explosive devices. The SWMDT often trains in the
Chicago area in preparation for large public events such as the upcoming
G8/NATO Summits.
"Every training exercise is an opportunity for our officers to use their
specialized skills, knowledge base, equipment, and response tactics so that
they are well prepared for any crisis response mission," said ISP Director
Hiram Grau.
In 2011, ISP Special Operations Command conducted 300 training missions
that involved a variety of high-risk operations, response, and preparedness
tactics.
The Unit trains once every week, and many surrounding and local
municipalities rely on ISP SWAT/SWMDT for tactical operations support and
assistance.
The Unit's commanding officer underscored that training also reinforces
practical experience when operating in an all hazards environment,
particularly with large scale security events like the G8 and NATO Summits.
"Our mission continues to focus on the highest level of tactical
performance and training that challenges our response capability for the
unexpected," said ISP Special Operations Command Captain Scott Koerner.
"Our officers have specialized training at every level of operational
tactics and understand that every threat, every hazard, and every crisis
will require high risk response operations," he added.
ISP SWAT and SWMDT are fully certified as the State's law enforcement
response for any type of tactical or hazardous crisis and are dedicated 24
hours.
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